A Must Read Automotive Sales Training Article on Building Rapport

Why won't car salespeople build rapport?What do you do for fun?
Too often, I see car salespeople trying to goDo you go on any long vacations?
from just meeting the customer to closing rightWhatever it is you are talking about to build
away. And every chance they get, they arerapport, just get off the topic of trying to sell
trying to close the sale on price. Sure, you mightthem something and make them feel comfortable
sell a few vehicles and make some money. Butwith you ASAP. Now as you're building rapport,
it's not even close to what you should or canyou should also qualify the right way. Building
earn in the car business.rapport and qualifying goes hand in hand. If you
Since most customers buy the vehicle becausequalify properly, this will allow you to present the
they liked the car salesperson, why not get themproper vehicle rather than wondering the lot
to like you? Now don't brag about yourself to trypresenting fifty million choices, which would only
to get them to like you. Instead build rapport withconfuse the customer. But the point I'm trying to
them. If you start to build rapport with them,make is you must build enough rapport. If you do,
you'll notice it will slow down the sales processit will only increase your chance of closing the sale.
and you can go through the basic steps muchIs there a set amount of time the car
more smoothly.salesperson should spend building rapport?
The customer is completely aware that theyThere really is no set time. The correct answer
walked into your dealership to buy a car. Andwould be as long as it takes. You can go through
they are also aware that you are there to sellthe basic steps and still keep building rapport, as
them one. Since all of this is common sense trylong as you have control over the conversation
making the customer feel as if they are here toyou should be okay.
own a vehicle rather than you are there to sellIf one of your strong points is that you're very
them one. There is a difference. Becausehumorous, use that to your advantage. Just don't
customers in general don't like being sold to.be rude. Customers are much easier to close
Since almost all customers don't like to be sold, it'swhen they are having fun, laughing and having a
your job to get that nervousness out of the airgreat time. Mastering these selling skills is a must.
and ease that tension. Start asking themThere are tons of others I teach. But building
open-ended questions and allow them to talk.rapport is a must to succeed in the car business
Break the ice and start asking them questionsas a salesperson.
about themselves such as: